Trump in South Bronx Targets Minority Votes
In an unexpected move, former President Donald Trump in South Bronx, held a rally last Thursday in one of the most Democratic counties in the nation, South Bronx. This campaign move is seen as Trump’s attempt to woo minority voters ahead of a Manhattan jury’s deliberation on his criminal hush money trial.
The rally took place in Crotona Park, a public green space in a neighborhood known for its diversity and high poverty rate. This marked a stark departure from Trump’s usual rally locations, which are typically held in predominantly white areas. However, the crowd was not as diverse as the South Bronx as a whole, although it featured a significant number of Black and Hispanic voters. Spanish could be heard throughout the crowd.
Trump used this opportunity to present himself as a better president for Black and Hispanic voters compared to President Joe Biden, focusing particularly on Biden’s immigration policies. He argued that the influx of migrants in New York has the most negative impact on Black and Hispanic populations, as they are the ones losing their jobs, housing, and more as a result. The crowd responded to his statements by chanting, “Build the wall,” a nod to Trump’s previous push for a U.S.-Mexico border barrier.
🚨 #Breaking News : Former President Donald Trump held a rally in the South Bronx, drawing a crowd of over 30,000 people. This event marked his first major gathering in New York since his initial White House bid. The rally, which took place in Crotona Park, aimed to discuss the… pic.twitter.com/A1nTswHamT
— America History (@AmericaHistory8) May 24, 2024
Local Reactions and Trump’s Strategy
As Trump has been confined to New York for his trial for the past six weeks, his campaign planned a series of local stops across his hometown before and after court. This included a visit to a bodega in Harlem, a construction site, and a photo op at a local firehouse. However, the Bronx rally was his first event open to the general public.
Trump insists that he is making a play to win an overwhelmingly Democratic state, a feat that hasn’t been achieved by a Republican since Ronald Reagan in 1984. This rally gave Trump a chance to highlight what he sees as his advantages on economic and immigration issues that could potentially sway key Democratic voting blocs.
Despite Trump’s efforts to appeal to minority voters, the Bronx Democratic Party protested his appearance with its own event at the park. Signs reading “The Bronx says no to Trump” in both English and Spanish were held by several union members.
Despite the rally’s mixed reception, Trump’s campaign believes he can chip away at Biden’s support among Black and Hispanic voters. Particularly, younger men who may not closely follow politics, but who are frustrated by their economic situations and drawn to Trump’s tough-guy persona.
This rally comes during a pause in Trump’s ongoing trial. The jury will soon decide whether Trump will be the first former president in the nation’s history to be criminally convicted and whether he will be the first major party presidential candidate to run as a convicted felon.
